Tire-holder.



F. C. MILLER.

TIRE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 19m.

Patented Aug. 17,1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- INVENTOR '3 \NITNESSES ATTORN E! F. C. MILLER.

TIRE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28. 1914.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- WITNESSES ATTORNEY 45 the manner of securing the rimUNITED STATES PATENT orrron FRANKLIN COMFORT MILLER, 01: EAS'ION,TENNSYLVANIA;

'rinn i oLnnn.

To all whom it may concern "Be it known that I, FRANKLIN C. MILLER,

a. citizen of the United States, residing at Easton, in the county ofNorthampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new usefulTire-Holder, of which the following'is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in tire holders.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction oftire holders and 'to provide a simple, practical, and efiicient tireholder of strong and inexpensive construction, adapted to be readilyapplied to the running board, back or other portion of an automobile,and equipped with means for supporting side by side a plurality ofdemountable rims with various forms of tires, and also various kinds oftires without rims, andcapable of holding the same perfectly rigid andof ready operation to confine or release the tires. -'With these andother objects in view the invention consists in the construction andnovel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto-appended,it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion,

within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. w

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a rim and tire holderconstructed in accordance with this invention, and provided with meansfor mounting it on the back of an automobile. Fig. 2 is acentralvertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3'is a plan viewof the rim and tire holder, a pair of demountable rims and tires beingshown in section. Fig. 4c is an end elevation partly in section,illustrating aim we holder to the back of an aut -c 5 is a similar viewillustrating the manner of mounting the r m and tire holder upon therunning board oran automobile. Fig.

50.6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion ofthe rim andtire holder, showing thesupport or tray arranged above the running boardand the tire engaging and supporting arms pivotally mounted beneath $5the running board. Fig. 7 is a transverse size, and "minor details ofconstruction,

r i ati ers Patent I I Patented Aug. 1'7, 1915'. Application filed Marchas, iai I 'j-Se'rial No. 828,030

sectional view on the line 77 of Fig- 6. i

Fig.'- Sis av plan view of the support or tray.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts' in all thefigures of the I drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated the preferredembodiment of the invention, 1 designates a bottom support or tray ofsubstantially the same construc tion as that shown, described, andclaimed 111 my Patent No. 1,09l,084, "ranted Apr. 21,

1914, and constructed of pressed metal or other suitable material andcurved transversely to provide grooves 2 and to form seats for a pair ofdemountable rims 3 and tires L, which are supported side by side in anupright position on the tire holder by upwardly diverging arms 5 of sidesupports. The bottom support or tray is curved longitudinally in adirection circumferential of the tires to present upper concave surfacesto the same, and the tire receiving grooves are spaced apart by anintermediate longitudinally disposed connecting web 6, approximatelyU-shaped in cross section, and spacing the sides 2 from each other andforming a central longitudinal rib. The tire holder is designed to bemounted on any portion of an'automobile, and the support or tray issecured at spaced points by bolts 7 or other suitable fastening devicearranged in pairs and piercing depressed portions 8 of the support ortray to arrange them beyond and out of contact with the tires. The bolts7 also pierce-spaced inner and outer transversely disposed rods .ormembers 9 and 10, arranged in pairs and designed to be constructedeither of solid or tubular metal, and threaded at their adjacent ends toreceive interiorly threaded T-shaped couplings 11, which are rigidlysecured to the lower ends of the arms 5. The inner and outer transverserods or members, which brace and stiffen the tray and constitute pivotsfor the arms 5, permit the said supports to swing u; wardly and inwardlyto engage the tires, or downwardly and outwardly to release the tires,The inner transverse rods or members are extended beyond the plane. ofthe tray or support and are threadedto receive couplings 12 forconnecting the said inner rods or members to vertical supporting rods13, equipped attheir upper ends with couplings 1%, which are providedwith attaching flanges 15 adapted .to be secured'to the Ill:

backgof an automobile, as'shown at 16. in

Fig.- 4 efthe drawings. The transverse rods or members and'the verticalsupporting rods 4 form brackets or hangers for mounting the bottom'suppot or'tray on the body or other portion'of an automobile, and. whilethese brackets or hangers are shown inthe drawings, as beingcorfistructed of tubular metaland couplings, sa

be made of any other suitable material.

When it is desired to mount the rim and tire holder upon the runningboard 17 of an automobile, bolts 18 of sufficient length to pierce thedepressed portions of the ottom support or tray, the transverse rods ormembers, and the running-board, are employed, washers or blocks 19 beinginterposed between the running board and the transverse rods or membersto'support the central couplings 11 clear of the running board, to en-.

able the upwardly extending arms 5 to swing freely in raising andlowering the same. Also, the bottom tray or support may be arrangeddirectly upon the running board with the transverse rods or membersbeneath the same, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and T of the drawings. Viththis arrangement, elongated bolts 20 are employed, and

. spacing washers or blocks 21 are-interposed betweenthe lower face ofthe running board 22 and the transverse rods or members to arms arelimited in their downward move-' ment by strapsor yokes to prevent thefor-' space the central couplings from the lower face of the runningboard. The running board is provided with slots 23, through which theupwardly extending tire engaging and supporting armspass; and the innerand outer .walls of the slots 23 may, if desired, be utilized as stopsfor limiting the upward and downward swinging movement 4 ofthe saidarms. By limiting the inward or upward swing of the side supports thetires arerelieved of strain when the sald side supports are connected toforma rigid tire supporting structure.

tom support' or tray 1s secured directly tothe transverse rods ormembers 9 and 10, the

arms 5 are limited in their upward moiement by the inner'walls ofterminal recesses 2-1 of the'tray or support. and thedownward movementof the said arms '5 is limited by straps or yokes'25 secured to thelower face of the support or tray and bowed downwardly, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings; The .terminal recesses 24 areformed in the central web portion 6 and mer from striking; and damagingany por- -'tion of the automobile when they are per-- brackets orhangers may \Vhen the botmitted to swing downwardly to release the rimsand'tires.

The arms 5, which diverge upwardly, "are;-

equipped at their upper ends with laterally projecting-horizontal arms26, preferably constructed of tubular metal and: projecting U inwardlyand outwardly fromthe upper. ends :of-the arms 5, and secured to-theug-i per terminals" thereof by .T-coupling's 2 The laterally extendingarms 26, which are;

adapted to fit. against..- the. tread portionsof the tires, as clearlyillustrated inFig. 3 of' the drawings, are'p'royided .at their outer.

terminals "with pivots '28. upon which ar 'mounted sleeves 29 providedwith retaining flangesforjjaws' The 28 have inner threaded I terminals31,- whi'ch"'are-' screwed into the interior)! threaded jouter ends ofthe horizontal arms 26. The "outer 7 terminals 32-of the rods 28 arethreaded for. the reception of locking nuts 33 adapted-t0 engage-theouterends of the sleeves' 28'tto 1 clamp the same gagainst the adjacentminals of the arms 26, wherebythe retain-'"-"' ing flanges orjawslaremaintained in;their engaging position. 'The lock. nuts are also adaptedto be. loosened to permitthe flanges 30 to be turned out of engagementwith the.

arms 5 and the laterallyextending horizon- -tires. .The upwardlydiverging inclined I tal arms 26 form approximately'T shaped tom'supportfor maintaining the rims'and the tires in an upright position. The sideflanges or jaws 30 are preferably provided with slots 34' fortheattachment of straps side supports which cooperate with'the' bot- 35,which extend through the rims and tires,

as clearly illustrated in Fig. -3 of the drawings. The straps-35, whichmay or may not be employed, connect the front and rear flanges or jawsat each side 'ofthe holder,

each strap being preferably doubled,- as shown. and linked into theslots of the flanges or jaws. The. straps, which are provided withsuitable buckles 36, assist in firmly securing the rims and tires withinthe holder. j

The hinged or pivoted side supports are adjustably and detachablyconnected with I each-other to maintain them rigidly in con tact withthe inner stops. and to release the side supports and permit the 'sameto swing downwardly against the outer stops. This connecting means,which is disposed 'longi-- tudi'nally of the tire holder, and whichpassesbetween the rims and tires. consists of rods 38 and 39, connectedat .their outer ends with the side supports and adjustably anddetachablyconnected at their inner ends by nieansof a turn buckle 40 anda screw 41. The outer ends of the rods 38 and 39 extend through slots 42in' the upper couplings 27, and areprovided with heads 43 arrangedwithin the couplings and being of a diameter greater than the width ofthe slots. The slots, which extend longitudi= nally of the holder, areof a length to per-'' mit a limited relative swinging movement of therods and the side supports. The rods 38'and 39 are introduced into theslots of the couplings 27 before the parts are assembled, and while thisconstruction afiords means for securing the outer ends of the rodsto'the side supports, any other suitable connecting means may, ofcourse, be em ployed. The inner end of the rod 39 is flattened andprovided with a key hole slot 44, and the screw 341, which engages oneend of the turn buckle, has its other terminal portion 45 bent laterallyat right angles, and provided with a head 46 of a size to pass throughthe enlarged portion of the key hole slot. The laterally bent terminalportion 45 of the screw 41 is reduced adja-' centto the head to form aneck, which is carried into the constricted portion-of the key hole slotby the tightening of the adjustable connection between the saidsupports. The inner end 47 of the rod 38 is threaded to engage the otherend of the turn buckle, which connects the rod 38 and the screw 41, andwhich is adapted to be rotated to place the connecting means of the sidesupports under the desired tension.

The turn buckle is also adapted to be operated toloosen the partssufliciently to enable the head of 'the screw to be disconnected fromthe key hole slot of the inner'end of the rod 39. When the adjustableconnecting means is placed under tension, the side supports aremaintained in rigid relation with I carried by the said supports for"fthe tire. atthe tread thereof.

the bottom support.

The rod 38 and the screw dlare equipped with lock nuts %8 which clampthe ends of the turn buckle and prevent any accidental loosening of thesame through jar and vibration. the holder by means of a yoke 49,arching the bottom support and carrying a lock 50. The yoke and the lockare constructed as shown and described in acopending application filedJuly :25, l913, Serial No. 781,237.

No claim is made in the present application to the yoke and the lockingmeans, as this 2. A tire holder including a bottom supif port or trayadapted to receive and support 'a-tire, side supports pivotally mountedat The rims and tires are locked in the ends of the bottom-support andarranged to swing upwardly'and'downwardlyto and from the tire.andjprovided at the top with means for engaging the tire at thetreadthereof, said tire holder being provided with stops for limiting theupward swing of the side supports, and means for rigidly maintaining theside supports in contactwith the said stops to provide a rigid-tireholder without subjecting-thetire to pressure.

3. A tire holder'including a bottom support or tray adapted to receiveand support a tire, side supports pivotally mounted at the ends of thebottom support or tray and extending upwardly therefrom and arranged toswing upwardly and downwardly to and from the tire'and provided at thetop with means for engaging the tire at the tread thereof, said tireholder being provided with inner stops for limiting the up ward movementof the side supports to relieve the tire of pressure and having outer Istops for limiting the-downward swing of the side supports, and meansfor maintaining the side supports rigidly'in contact with the innerstops.

1, A tire holder 'including'a bottom tire support or tray adapted toreceive a'plurality of tires, and side supports pivotally mounted at theends ofthe bottom support and extending up'w'ardly therefrom andprovided at the top with horizontally disposed arms having spaced meansfor engaging a plurality'of tires and carried into and out of engagingposition by the'upwardand I downward swinging of the side supports, saidside supports being limited in their upward swing by the tray to relieve'the tires of pressure.

5. A tire holder including pivotally mounted side supports provided atthe. to with means for engaging a tire at the treat thereof and adaptedto be carried into and out. of engagement with the tire by the 0swinging movement of the said supports, inner stops for limiting theinivard movement of the side supports to relieve the tire of pressure,and means for maintaining the side supports rigidly in contact with theinner stops, said side supports, when released, being adapted to dropout of en gagement with the tire.

6. A tire holderincluding inclined side supports pivotally mounted attheir lower ends and provided at their upper ends with means forengaging a tire the tread thereof, and carried into and out ofengagement with the tire by the upward and downward swinging movement ofthe side supports, inner stops for limiting the upward movement of theside'supports torelievethe tire of pressure, outer stops for limitingthe downward movement of the side supports. and means for maintainingthe side supso and arranged to swing into and out of. the,

treads thereof, jaws or flanges --pi votally '-.6$: f. rnounted on the,outer ends of the ar iiidlii n a m n w the i e -lg pivotall'y below theplane ofthe. I 1 bottom supprt -and arranged k i to. swing to andfrom-the saidibottom'support and provided withi meansfor engaging atireat the 2 terposed between and' forming a stop for limiting thelinward movement of the side supports-to relieve the, tire frompressure,- and means-for maintaining the side supports rigidly incontact with-the bottom support, 15 tire holderincluding a bottomsupport-having spaced seats arranged'to receive a plurality 0t tires,said bottom support be mg provided between the seats withterminal'recesses, and pivotally mounted side sup- 29 ports arranged toswing into and out of the recesses of the bottom support and providedwith means for engaging. the tires'. v

.9. A tire holder including a lower support providedv with spaced tirereceiving sides 5 and having an intermediate web or connecting portion,said bottom support being also provided in the ends of the connectingweb with recesses, side supports pivotally.inounted below the plane ofthe bottom-support said recesses, and means for maintaining the sidesupports-rigidly in contact with the bottom support.

' .10. ."A tire holder including a bottom support having 'spacedmirereceiving sides, side supports ha ving-an pivotally mounted below theplane ot tli d bottom'support and operating at the space between theside seats, said side supports-being arranged to ea swing-to and fromthe bottom support, and

. straps-or yokes carried by the bottom supfportJand extending acrossthe space between jthese'ats'and arranged to limit the outward movementof the side supports. 11. 'A' tire holder including 'pivotally mountedside supports each consisting ofa-' central stem and laterally extendingarms carried by the central stem and projecting in advance and in rearof the same to en. 56 gage apair of tires at the treads.thereof,'

'means carried by the laterally projecting arms at the outer terminals"thereof for. holdingthe tires against transverse movement, andimeansextending between the tires 5% for connecting the side supports witheach other.

12. A tire holder including .pivotally mounted side supports arranged.to swing upwardly and downwardly and each' con- 6 sisting of a centralstem and laterally extending horizontal arms carried by the stems andprojecting in advance and in rear. of the stem to engage a pair of tiresat the lelis m withvthe tires to carry. them intoand F outofengagementiwith thesame, said jaws Y being adapted, "to. hold the tiresagainst downward or forward movement, and clampmgmeans having a--.threaded engagementv with the arms for. locking the 'jawsrigid',

v, therewith. tread thereof, 8&1d"b0tt0111 support being in- .13. A tireholder including 'pivotally mounted side supports adapted to engage aplurality of tires and arranged to swing 'inwardly and outwardly withrespect to the treads of the tires, rods or -members extending betweenthe tires and connected at their outer ends to" the side supports andextending inwardly therefrom between the tires, and meansfor'detachab'ly and adjust;

ably connecting the inner terminals of the rods.

a 14. A tire. holder including pivotally mounted side supports adapted.to engage a plurality of tires and arranged to swing inwardly andoutwardly with respect to the treads of the tires, longitudinallydisposed rods or members connected at; their outer ends to the sidesupports and arranged to extend between the tires, one of the rods orfmembers being. provided with a slot or. .opening having a constrictedportion, a screw having a laterally extending terminal portion providedwith a head for detachably engaging the said slot or opening, a

'turn buckle connecting the screw with the other rod or-member, andlocking means forengaging the turn buckle to prevent rotary movementthereof.

15. A tire holder including pivotallyj mounted approximately T-shapedside supports provided with slots, longitudinal rods adapted to bearranged between two tires and extending through the slots and havingheadsar'ranged interiorly ofthe said supports, andmeans for connectingthe inner ends of the rods.

16. A tire holder including a bottom support having a plurality of tirereceiving seats, spaced transversely disposed-rods or members arrangedbeneath the bottom support andforming pivots, and side supportsmounted-on the 'saidpivots andprovided with means for engaging the tiresat the treads thereof, said supports being adapted to swing upwardly anddownwardly into. and out of-their engaging or supporting position,

17. A tire holder comprising: a bottom support, spaced inner and outerrodsor members arranged in pairs] and secured to the bottom support, andsidesupports pivotally' connected to'the bottom support by -the saidrods-or members a'nd arranged to swing upwardlyand, downwardly into andout; of contact withthe; same. 18'. A tire-holder comprising a bottomSurreal-e re a i messes 53 members arranged in paii s and. secured feethe bettem suppert, Si&8 suppez ts piyeteiiy connected to the bottomsuppers by the said I sris of members, and arranged to swing gswardiyand .downwarciiy into enii'out 0i .zfmtaefi with the same said innerrods or members being extended begged the bottom ipport, and hanger redscenziected with the ended porasiens ei the inner rocis or memsers andprovided with attaching means for beating the tire heicier on anautomobile. 19, A tire holder ieciedmg side supper-es mtaiig; mouzitedat their lower ends and eroviiieci at their 1% ith laterally extendg thetreads oi the tires ami side er fiaegus fer reseming see transversemevezziene means extending between the tires "fer sen Beating the sidesupports with each other said jaws erflanges being provided with SiG tS,and straps arranged to extent! across the inner at base portiees 0f thetires and mountee in the said slots. y

In testimeny, that I claim file foregoing as my even, Fl have hereasaffixed my signsture in the presence 0f two Witnesses.

FRANKLIN COEFORT MILLER. Witnesses:

J. RUssELL BRQWN Rnsssm, D. WELGH.

